Chapter 49: Shadows of the Past

Hours passed by and darkness settled in the room along the setting sun. The silence was deafening. Chad felt like he was the only person in the room. Stacy had retreated so far into herself, he couldn’t feel her presence.

He turned to look at her. She was still in the same position, hunched over herself beside him. He strained his eyes a little to see her face in the dark. Her eyes were open, the same dead look in them.

“Sammy?” he called out softly. There wasn’t any reaction. His eyes landed on the plate in front of her. It was untouched. “If you’re not going to eat, at least take a nap, would you?” He tried again. No reaction. Nothing.

He didn’t know what else to do. He didn’t want to revisit old memories, something he had been doing for the past few hours. He let out a long breath as he closed his eyes. There was something in particular that came to his mind but he was afraid to try. Retreated into their own world of pain, they were really unpredictable.

He remembered the time when he had tried to approach his mother. Her slender figure was curled up on the couch, eyes staring blankly. The plate in front of her on the coffee table remained untouched for days. Her eye bags were getting worse and it was clear she had lost some weight.

“Poor boy..,” he had heard the neighbors gossiping on his way home from the grocery store one day. “Look at him getting the grocery alone at his age.”

He had looked down at his legs and increased speed. ‘Everything would be alright,’ he told himself. “What happened?” Another nosy neighbor’s voice entered the conversation. “You didn’t know? His father passed away recently, and his mother’s following soon..”

The comment made him stop in his tracks. He turned to face the neighbor. “She’s alive and well! Stop saying nonsense!” The woman’s face flushed at his outburst at her. The other neighbors were watching. She couldn’t possibly lose face in this situation, getting screamed at by a boy. She would lose her reputation as the most well-informed person in town.

“Am I wrong?” She countered. “How long has it been since she ate? Did she sleep at all?” Tears welled up in his eyes as she continued.

The other neighbors appeared anxious. A woman tugged at her hand, discreetly asking her to stop talking but she went on without empathy. “She’s as good as dead. I’m simply telling the truth. She’s dying slowly as we speak. Why are you screaming at me for telling the truth?”

“Liar! You’re a liar! She’s alive and well!” He screamed. The other neighbors tried to jump in and console him. “She’s going to be alright,” someone said. “Things will get better..” another person chimed in. He wasn’t listening to them. Tears continued spilling out of his eyes like a broken dam. “You’re bad! You curse my mother.. I hate you!” The five-year-old managed as he turned on his feet and ran home, crying all the way.

As soon as he burst in through the front door, he dropped the grocery bag on the floor and wiped his eyes. His mother was still in the same position on the couch. “Mom!” He called out for the umteenth time since she started losing herself. As usual, there wasn’t any response. Not even a muscle moved.

‘She’s dying slowly as we speak,’ the neighbor’s voice echoed in his mind as he looked at his mother’s statue-like figure on the couch. “Mom!” He tried harder, moving to her. “Aunt Linda said you’re dying. You will not die, right? Right?” He continued talking to her but his words fell on deaf ears.

“Say something!” He shook her by the shoulders. She remained passive as he cried. “She’s evil. She cursed you,” he complained while sobbing, “she’s bad. You’re just sick. You will heal soon. Right?”

For the first time in almost forever, her eyes focused and looked towards him slowly. He was glad. “Mom! You’re alright.. I know you won’t leave me. I’m so scared..” he sobbed as he hugged her.

When he woke up, he was in her embrace. The woman laid on the couch with her eyes closed. He was lying in her arms. She’s sleeping. He was glad. ‘She will wake up and everything will be back to normal,’ he’d thought.

She didn’t. The police found a note under a bottle of medication. ‘I’m sorry, baby,’ he could almost hear her say it.

He was pulled back to the present when he felt a tear hit the back of his palm. He held his hand up to his face, touching the liquid, as if he was trying to figure out if it was his tears.

Taking a deep breath, he looked at the girl beside him. He wouldn’t risk doing anything. He barely knew her. He didn’t want to accidentally hit a button. He didn’t want a repeat of his past.

Slowly, he moved to the bed and grabbed the blanket. He draped it over her before leaving the room. A man was standing outside the room. “Keep watch. Make sure nobody unauthorized enters. If you hear anything..,” he stopped briefly. “Just, keep your ears peeled. Make sure she’s fine,” his voice softened into a whisper.

He went to the first place that came to his mind. He was too young back then. Now, he’s got the wisdom to handle things properly. And he would.

His steps echoed in the dark as he descended the stairs. He gestured for the men to leave. There, in the cell, sat the man in his usual pose. He had his eyes closed and his arms folded in front of him in a relaxing manner. He acted too casually after all that happened.

“Nothing can really bother you,” he said, announcing his presence.

The man opened his eyes. “How’s she?” It’s obvious he cared, though his tone was unusually calm.

Chad folded his arms, mimicking his action. “Which her?”

They stared at each other for some time. Nobody moved or said anything.

Finally, Hank opened his mouth to speak. “If you are here to collect my life, at least let this old man know how they are doing before his death.”